Capello's England shake off World Cup woes, but problems persist
England’s return to competitive action after an inarguably disappointing World Cup campaign produced a resounding-looking 4-0 win against a poor Bulgarian side. You might argue though that the result raised as many questions as it seemed to answer.
Wayne Rooney continues to look sluggish and slothful and uncharacteristically weak in the tackle. While Rooney dropped deep and postured in the middle of the park, it was left to Jermaine Defoe to do the hard yards, chasing lost causes and putting himself about.
Defoe is apparently playing with sprained testicles (or something similar) but he showed a real appetite to get into the right areas and was rewarded with a splendidly clinical hat-trick that would have delighted supreme European marksman David Villa.
All Defoe’s goals came from early left-footed strikes, supposedly the Spurs man’s weaker foot; consummate (consummate! I love football talk) finishing from one of the few England players that emerged from South Africa 2010 with any credit.
- Defoe picked up a knock completing his hat-trick
Rooney, it must be said, laid on all three of Defoe’s goals and had a hand in most things that were good about England going forward. He just still doesn’t look quite right.
Whether he is struggling to reconcile his game with efforts to control his temper and aggressive nature, or whether a niggling injury persists, Rooney is definitely not 100%. He is still capable of some wonderful things however.
His clipped reverse pass to put Ashley Cole in for the first goal was sublimely delicate and precise and he persistently used the ball intelligently and unselfishly. In dropping deep he was able to act as repeat provider for lively strike partner Defoe; the nucleus of an England strike partnership seems to be at last forming.
Intelligence was a key part of England’s performance. Steven Gerrard, looking much more at home, pulled strings from midfield, and also recognised the need to assume some extra defensive responsibility and cover his defenders when the occasion arose. He is demonstrably a better player than Frank Lampard in that position, and if the two cannot - as seems to be the case - play in the middle together, then Gerrard should be first choice.
Gareth Barry played within his limitations in the holding role. Barry is steady and plays it simply, but I feel England need to blood a proper combative David Batty type defensive midfielder, capable of assuredly protecting his defence, to fully free up England's creative midfield options. He is certainly not the long term answer here.
James Milner looked the part on the left wing; unusually for an England wide player he isn’t blessed with searing pace. Against Bulgaria he belied this deficit of natural quickness by using his noodle.
On countless occasions he outwitted his full-back, out-thinking the Bulgarian Manolev with a deft first touch, a drop of the shoulder or clever, obstructive use of his bullish frame. Good signs for an England team so often short of nous.
England’s right wing wasn’t quite so bright. Glen Johnson and Theo Walcott have all the potential in the world, but they too often look clueless. Walcott looked significantly improved from his desperate performances in England’s World Cup warm-up games when he seemed to playing in borrowed boots. His control was surprisingly good, the ball more easily brought under his spell than I can remember seeing.
Time after time Walcott blitzed passed his full-back but his final ball was too often poor, thoughtless or confused. He is only 21 of course, but he remains a frustrating figure.
- Our MOTM Joe Hart
It may be that Walcott has a long term battle on his hands for that position with Manchester City’s in-form Adam Johnson. Johnson was lively and threatening when he came on, and chipped in with a cheap goal. I’m not convinced he is a right winger though, and I’d like to see him given a run - for club and country - on the left.
England were largely assured at the back. Phil Jagielka defended well but used the ball poorly and a couple of slips from ungainly but mostly excellent centre-back Michael Dawson nearly let Bulgaria in. When Dawson suffered what looks to be a bad injury, his replacement Gary Cahill also seemed at home in the shirt. Bulgaria though still posed a threat to England’s goal.
Defoe got the man of the match award but it was probably young England goalkeeper Joe Hart that impressed the most.
Hart is currently possessed of supernatural self-confidence and seemed to be so absolutely impenetrable that even when Bulgaria got through one-on-one you never feared they would get past the Manchester City stopper.
Hart -occasionally erratic distribution aside- was the real plus in an England home performance that flattered the hosts; he looks like he may, with his shot-stopping prowess and level-headed demeanor, be about to make one of England’s problem positions his own for the forseeable future.
I thought the whole performance was better. I’d like to see someone else tried in the ‘Barry’ role though. He isn’t quick enough or alert enough to protect the back four from danger. There were times when Gerrard was having to do both jobs. I think Johnson starting on the right with Walcott coming on for the last 20 mins would create a frightening combination of tricks to start and flat out pace against tired legs to finish. Feel a bit more optimistic now but still a very difficult game on Tuesday and I’d take a draw if offered right now.